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THE 

Physical, Political, and 
Mathematical 



EOGRAPHY 



OF 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

BY 
Alcxassder Lacy Phillips A. B., 

CLINTON, SAMPSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 



V- ^ 



P[TRLTSHE T ) AT TITE REQUEST OE THE WILSON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 



Copy-right, ]8R.'5, hy Alexander Laey Phillips. 



wilson, n. c. 
Josephus Daniels, Purjjsher. 

1883. 



JUL 16 



INorth Carolina.; 



1. Position. — North Carolina is in the Southeastern part of 
the United States. It is bounded on the North by Virginia, on 
the East by the Atlantic Ocean, on the South bv South Caro- 
lina, and on the West by Tennessee. 

II. Extent. — Its area is 52,286 square miles, which is a 
little greater than that of New York, and almost exactly that 
of England. Its greatest length from East to West is 503 miles; 
its greatest length from North to South is 1ST miles. It has 
314 miles of sea coast. There are 96 counties in the State. The 
largest counties are Brunswick and Robeson (950 square miles); 
the smallest county is New Hanover (80 square miles'). The 
population of the State is 867, 242 white, 531,277 colored, 1,230 
Indians, making a total of 1,399.749. There are about 29 per- 
sons to every square mile of surface. 

III. Contour. 1. Indentations. — Its Eastern boundary is 
indented by three large sounds, Currituck, Albemarle, and 
Pamlico, and by two large bays, Raleigh and Onslow. The 
sounds are broad and shallow, and abound in fish. 

2. Projections. — Skirting the sea coas are many long, 
narrow sandbanks, which often change their positions. The 
projections from t.ese banks make dangerous capes, as Cape 
Hatteras, Cape Lookout and Cape Fear. 

IV. Relief. — According to height of surface above sea- 
level, the State is divided into sections. (1). the Eastern, (2). 
Middle and (3). Western sections. 

1. The Eastern section lies along the sea coast, and ex- 
tends inland from 120 to 150 miles. Its surface is low and 
level, containing, near the ocean, many lakes and swamps. 

2. The Middle section contains nearly one half the area of 
the State. It extends from the Eastern sec ion to t. e foot of 
the Blue Ricke Mountains in the West. Its surface is undu- 
lating and hilly, varying in height from 150 feet to 1,500 feet. 

3. The Western section extends from the Blue Ridge on 
the East to the Smoky Mountains on the West. It is a high 
table land (plateau), 2,5(M) feet hirh, containing several high 
peaks. The highest peak is Mount Mitchell, 6,688 feet high. 
It is the highest peak in the Appalachian System. Other high 
peaks are Clingman's Peak, Roan Mountain, Bald Mountain 
and Grand Father Mountain. There are about thirty peaks in 
North Carolina above 6,000 feet high, many of which art 4 higher 
than Mount Washington. If the whole surface of the State 
were leveled, it would be 640 feet above sea l.-vel. 

V. Rocks. 1. Soils. — The soil of the Eastern section is 
generally sandy and of moderate fertility. But alon/ the 
streams ano in the swamps the soil is very fertile. In the 
Middle and Western sections there are all kinds of soil. It 
is a remarkable fact that the mountains are covered with rich 
soil and magnificent forests crown their very summits. 

2. Minerals. The following minerals are found in work- 
able quantities: marl in 25 counties ; copper in 12 countie ; 



limestone in 20 counties ; coal in three counties. Mica is ex- 
tensively and profitably mined in the mountains. Graphite, 
lead, silver, zinc, manganese, corundum rind many precious stones 
are found. Beautiful and valuable building stones exist in 
great abundance. There is a larger number of species of mine- 
rals found in North Carolina than in any other State in the 
Union 

VI. Rivers. — There are two river systems represented in 
the State. 1. the Atlantic system, East of the Blue Ridge, and 
2. th.i Mississippi system, West of the Blue Rid*re. 

1. Atlantic System. There are seven large rivers which 
flow in a Southeastern direction through the Middle and East- 
ern sections, and empty i^to the Atlantic Ocean. The Roan- 
oke empties into Albemarle Sound and is navigable to Weldon 
nearly 100 miles from its mouth. The Tar empties into Pam- 
lico Sound and is niviuable to Tarboro, 100 miles from its 
nioutn. The Neuse empties into Pimlico Sound and is navi- 
gable to Golds^oro, 100 miles from its mouth. The Cape Fear 
empties into the Atlantic Ocean and is navigable to Fayette- 
ville, 140 miles from its month. The Yadkin, Catawba and 
Broad Rivers take their rise in the Blue Ridge and flow South- 
east through South Carolina and empty into the Atlantic 
Ocean; they are navigable for certain parts only of their 
courses. 

2. The Mississippi system. West of the Blue Ridge are six 
other large rivers, New. Watauga, Nolechucky, French Broad, 
Tennessee and Iliwassee. These rivers flow West into the 
Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The Tennessee River is the 
largest of them. 

Water Power. The value of these rivv r can scarcely be 
estimated. The force produced by their fall from their 
sources to the sea exceeds the force of all \he steam-engines in 
the United States or in Great Britain. The Yadkin River 
alone, before leaving the State, has power to turn 10,000,000 
spindles. The total water power of the State is 3,500,000 horse 
powers. 

V1T. Climate. — Every variety of climate from very warm 
to very cold exists in the State. There is no healthier climate 
anywhere than that which the Middle and Western sections 
afford. The mountains are fast becoming resorts for invalids. 
Ti:e average yearly temperature of the whole State is 59°. 
The average rain fall is 52 inches. 

VII 1. Vegetation. — 1. Native Growth. — In the Eastern 
section are found the pine, cypress, .juniper and live-oak. The 
long-leafed i hie, which covers a large part of this section, is of 
great value in producing turpe tine. Tlie live-oak is exten- 
sively used for shipbuilding. The Middle section abounds in 
oaks, hickory, walnut, persimmon, dog-wood and sassafras, all 
of which are valuable to commerce. In the Western section 
occur walnut, cedar, white pine, and chestnut. Four-fifths of 
the entire area of the State are still covered with .forests. 

2. Cultivated Growth. — Cotton and corn are the staple 
products of the State. In the Eastern section are produced 
cotton, corn, potatoes, the small grains, peanuts and a great 



variety of garden vegetables; in the Middle section, cotton, 
corn, the small grains and tobacco; in the Western section, the 
small grains and tobacco; the Western section is well adapted 
to grazing. Fruit grows in great variety and perfection in 
every part of the State. 

IX. Animals. — All the domestic animals common to the 
North temperate zone are found in the State. Of the wild ani- 
mals, bears and deer are found in the Eastern and Western 
sections. Small game is abundant every where. 

X. Industries. — In the Eastern section of the State tM*j 
rivers, lakes and sounds furnish a great abundance of fish and 
oysters, the catching of which is rapidly becoming one of the 
principle industries. The cultivation of cotton engages a large 
part of the people in this sect. on. In the Middle section man- 
ufactories are found along the streams. Iron and gold mines 
are being profitably worked. Manv extensive tobacco lacto- 
nes are in operation in this section. In the Western section 
the people are mainly engaged in agriculture, mining, and cat- 
tle raising. 

XI. Cities. — Raleigh, situated in Wake Counly is the 
capital of the State, and was named after Sir Walter Raleigh. 
Wilmington having a population of 17,350, is the largest city 
and seaport. Other cities and towns of importance are Fay- 
etteville New Berne, Goldsboro,' Elizabeth City, Wilson, Dur- 
ham, Greensboro, Winston, Salisbury, Charlotte, Statesville 
and Asheville. 

XL I. History. — The first permanent settlement in the State 
was made in 1653. The State was settled by English, French, 
Germans, Swiss and Scotch-Irish. North Carolina was one of 
the original Thirteen States of the Union, and was the first to 
declare herself free of the rule of England. This act took 
place at Charlotte in Mecklenburg County in May, 1775. The 
State University, whose corner stone was hi id in 1793, is at 
Chapel Hill, in Orange County. The chief Colleges in the 
State are Trinity, Wake Forest and Davidson. 

I. Position. 
II. Extent. 

Ill CONTOUR ! (I) " I, " 1 «'" ri ' fi<,,,s 

m. < oniouk. ^ (2) _ projections. 

iv. keliee. iii!-n , ;v. ti, ; ,, n. 

( (2). Depressions. 
V RorKs \ (1) - Soils - 

VI Rivers l(1 )- Attantin System. 

VI. KIVERS. j (L>) Mississ j I(pi System. 

VII. Climate. 
TTI1T „ ((1). Native Growth. 

VIII. VEGETABLES. { j^ n ,, t iv;|((M , ( ; rmvlll . 

TV . I (I). Domestic. 

IX. ANIMALS. ] J 2 5 Wikl 

( (1). Agriculture. 

X. Industries. ) (2). Manufacturing. 

((8). Mining. 
XI. Cities. 
XII. IItstory. 



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